MN: Former Edwards staffer joins on with Franken
5:02 PM
Democrat Al Franken's U.S. Senate campaign is getting some help from a former national spokesman for John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign.
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza says Eric Schultz' move to join "a campaign under siege" gives the Franken camp a boost.
Schultz, who was heavily lobbied by national Democrats to take the job, will have a broad role in the campaign -- overseeing the communications, research and speechwriting arms. ... The additions of Schultz and [campaign manager Stephanie] Shriock should help bring order and discipline to Franken's campaign and Barack Obama's presence at the top of the ticket should also provide a boost to the Democratic ticket.Jeff Rosenberg of the liberal Minnesota Campaign Report calls the move "the best bit of news I've seen in some time."
In my mind, Schultz has three major tasks ahead of him, none of which have been done properly yet:
1. Institute a "zero-tolerance policy" against Norm Coleman's attacks. All attacks should be cleared up within 24 hours, whether that involves responding directly or getting the subject changed.
2. Re-introduce Al to Minnesotans. The first introduction was mired by irrelevant "scandals" dug up by Coleman to distract us from his own record.
3. Relentlessly turn the conversation to the issues, where Coleman is the most vulnerable.
